Sara Meets The Stokes
Pairing: Nick and Sara
Nick gives Sara her first lesson in horseback riding.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the CSI characters. I only own Nick's family.
Sara and the Horses
"Wake up, Sara," Nick said gently.
"Nick, what do you want?" Sara groggily asked as she slowly woke up.
"Today, I am going teach you how to ride a horse," Nick smiled. "Get up and take a shower. I am going fix for us a very light and simple breakfast as soon as you come out of the shower. I already put your hair towel in the bathroom and your robe is on the chair. I'll throw in a massage afterwards."
"Okay, Cowboy, help me up," Sara said.
Sara sat up on the bed and Nick gently pulled her up. He left the room and closed the door to give Sara some privacy so she could change into her robe. It wasn't that he didn't want to see Sara naked, it was just that he didn't want to do it while they were visiting his folks. Also, they were dating for a few months and they didn't want to rush things.
After she was in her robe, she went to take a shower. She was excited and scared of learning to ride a horse. However, she knew that she would be in good hands and Nick wouldn't let anything happen to her. When she finished, she wrapped her hair in her hair towel and her body with the towel Cynthia provided for her. She went to her room and got ready for the day. She went downstairs to the dining room. On the table there was a vase with fresh cut flowers in the center, but thankfully not from the garden. There were two place settings across from each other.
Nick appeared out of the kitchen with an unopened box of cereal. He returned for some milk and fruit juice. He wanted to make coffee, but that would have to wait until after the riding lesson. He didn't notice Sara was already in the dining room area when he dropped the two bananas he was taking to the table. Sara went to help him, he jumped.
"Sara, you sure know how to give a barely thirty-two year man a heart attack," Nick said. "Next time, let me know when you are approaching me."
"I am sorry," Sara said.
"No problem," Nick smiled. "Let's have breakfast. The sooner we eat, the sooner I can get you on a horse."
Sara laughed at Nick's remark about getting her on a horse. He was blushing as he pulled out a chair, told her to sit and he gently pushed the chair in without making her uncomfortable. He sat across from her. They helped themselves to the cereal, milk, bananas and juice. Nick lifted his glass of juice and instructed Sara to do the same. At first she didn't understand why Nick told her to do that, but he wanted to propose a toast for her. They tapped their glasses and each took a sip of their own glass. Breakfast was eaten with jokes and Nick asking Sara how she liked Texas so far. She thought it was different from Vegas, Tamales Bay, San Francisco and Boston in a positive way. He wanted to know when she was going to take him with her to California. She just shrugged her shoulders and told him whenever he wanted to go, she will take him.
After they finished, Sara helped Nick clean up and washing dishes. Nick insisted that he didn't need help and that he could handle a few dishes on his own. He relented when Sara told him the sooner they finish cleaning, the sooner she could get on a horse. Nick laughed loudly and kissed her on the cheek. They put everything away and proceeded to the stables.
"How many horses do you have at Stokes Manor?" Sara asked as they walked.
"We now have nine," Nick said. "It looks like it is one horse for each for my parents, siblings and me."
"I can't wait to meet them," Sara said. "Are you going start me off on a very gentle one?"
"Sara, I would never dream of letting you ride a rough horse until you are ready," Nick said. "Of course we are going to start with a gentle horse. Apple Blossom and Sakura are extremely gentle, two perfect girls for novices. Which one do you want me to saddle up?"
"I'll take Sakura," Sara said.
Nick led her to the stables. They stopped at the one holding a white and brown mare. She was looking at Nick and the woman with him.
"Hey Sakura," Nick cooed. "It's me, Nick. I want to introduce you to my girlfriend Sara Sidle. Sara, this is Sakura. My niece Zoë named her after the Japanese word for cherry blossom."
"Sakura, this is my first time ever riding on a horse," Sara said. "Be extra gentle with me, please!"
"Sara, what did I just tell you?" Nick said. "I would never let you ride on a rough horse. Sakura will take good care of you! I am going to saddle her up and I'll show you how to mount."
After Nick saddled Sakura, he led her out of the stable. Sara followed her boyfriend and the horse. They stopped suddenly. Sara approached one side of Sakura.
"Relax, Sara, relax," Nick said. "It will be fun and you can tell Grissom, Brass, Dr. Robbins, Catherine, Warrick and Greggo that you rode a horse at Stokes Manor. However, I won't go to the one of those customizing t-shirt places and get you a t-shirt that says 'I rode on a horse for the first time ever at 31.'."
"I would have kicked that cute ass of yours if you did that," Sara said.
"I know," Nick winked at her. "Now put one foot in this stirrup and push yourself up until you bring your opposite leg to the other side and put that foot in that stirrup. Hold on to the horn for balance and the reins are used to control the horse. Don't do anything, yet, I'll be right back."
"Nick, where are you going?" Sara asked.
"I am going to saddle up Comet III," Nick said. "I am going to ride next to you and give you cues."
Less than five minutes later, Nick had already saddled, led out and mounted a black horse.
"Sara, this is Comet III," Nick said. "He is another gentle horse. His grandsire, the original Comet, was born in 1986 when Halley's Comet appeared. My sister Marissa and I both named the foal after the phenomenon."
"He is gorgeous," Sara said. "Sakura, you are beautiful."
"Now give Sakura a gentle kick," Nick said. "She'll start a slow trot."
Nick did the same to Comet III. They were riding on the horses at a very leisurely pace. He was giving her cues on what to do next. She was having a great time riding on beautiful Sakura. It opened a whole new world for her. A world she couldn't imagine if she hadn't met Nick.
That man is full of surprises, Sara thought. I wouldn't be surprised if I become his wife in the future.
Nick noticed how Sara was riding Sakura. She was giggling and calm. If riding on a horse could do that to a first timer, he could imagine her reaction for her second ride ever. In the nearly three years he had known her, she went from a workaholic to someone who could balance work and play. He was glad that he helped her out with that. Suddenly, he was thinking about marrying her, but quickly put those thoughts out of his head. He promised himself and Sara to take things slowly and that how it would be.
An hour later, they dismounted their horses and brought them back to the stables. Nick helped Sara remove the saddle from Sakura and he took the one of Comet III's.
"How was your first ever horseback ride?" Nick asked.
"It is so exhilarating," Sara said. "I am glad I did it! Wahoo!"
She pulled Nick into an embrace and they passionately kissed each other. They weren't aware that someone was standing there watching them. They were too distracted playing tonsil hockey to notice. It wasn't until that person cleared his or her throat that caused Nick and Sara to release each other and investigate who was there.
"Heather, you shouldn't sneak up on people like that," Nick said. "What if Sara and I were really making out?"
"Nick, I don't think you would be crazy enough to do something like that," Heather said. "Besides, I don't think Sara is the type of girl who's into public making out. I think the most you will get her to do in public is embrace and kiss."
"Ah, but I am spoiling her," Nick said. "We flew from Vegas on First Class."
"Nicky, are you insane?" Heather said. "Do I have to call the local mental institution and tell them to put my little brother in straitjacket and haul him away?"
"Heather, don't be hard on Nick," Sara said. "He is so sweet with me. I appreciate the way he spoils me. Your brother changed my life."
"I taught Sara some basic horseback riding skills," Nick said. "She was calm and had a great time."
"Oh, which horse did you ride?" Heather asked.
"Sakura," Sara said.
"She is my favorite," Heather said. "I'll tell a brief story of how she got her name. Our niece Zoë went to Tokyo as an exchange student three years ago. She loved it and learned the language. The Japanese word for cherry blossom is Sakura. She thought it was the most beautiful word in that language. When she returned home, she learned that Athena foaled three months before and my parents had a tough time naming the foal. Enter Zoë and her idea of naming the foal Sakura. My parents loved it and it stuck."
"Heather, it was nice chatting with and getting teased by you," Nick said looking at his watch. "Sara and I have to get going. I made an appointment for her at a day spa for a 60 minute massage. We need to be there in about half an hour. We'll see you andyour familyat your place tonight."
Two hours later, Sara was sitting in the couch drinking a glass of water. The masseuse told her to drink a glass of water when she got back to the house or she would be sore. Nick brought her a chocolate chip cookie on a plate. He took the empty glass and put it in the sink. He returned and sat next to Sara.
"Did you have fun this morning?" Nick asked.
"Yes, horseback riding is fun," Sara said. "I want to go again before we leave for Vegas."
"You will, Sara," Nick smiled. "I will see to it that you do."
"Thank you for the massage," Sara said. "It feels great and I smell like a blend of lavender and vanilla."
"Hey, you deserve to be pampered," Nick smiled.
"I love you, Nick," Sara said as she laid her head on Nick's shoulder and kissed his neck.
"I love you, too, Sara," Nick said kissing Sara on her forehead.
TBC
